World's Largest Armadillo Makes A Rare Appearance

If you were to close your eyes and imagine an armadillo, this is probably the creature who would come to mind: a nine-banded armadillo — commonly found across a broad range, including the southern United States.

Nine-banded armadillos are among the largest animals of their type (some of whom are quite small), but this species is nothing compared to their enormous cousins south of the border. Chances are, it's an animal you've never seen before.

Giant armadillos, native to South America, can weigh up to 180 pounds and reach lengths of nearly 5 feet, head to tail. Despite their massive size, however, the giant armadillo is considered one of the most elusive animals on the planet — so much so, in fact, that very little is known about them at all.

But just recently, one of these camera-shy behemoths decided to make a stunning rare appearance.

While this giant armadillo's crossing of paths with humanity had a happy ending, that's unfortunately not always the case.

This species is listed as "vulnerable" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, with poaching and habitat loss considered among its biggest threats. With any luck, this rare encounter will help put a face to this imperiled species, bolstering efforts to save them before a time comes when they're never seen again.